Beauty blogging..

I love winter as it means I can pull out my dark lipsticks and wear big cosy jumpers, but as it gets closer to Christmas I like to wear as much glitter as I can get away with, so naturally when I saw this on the homepage on Beauty Bay I got really excited. http://www.beautybay.com/

With gorgeous, chunky glitter nail polishes in jewel tones such as green, gold and blue, I really love the way this collection by Deborah Lipmann has been put together, as it is sure to compliment any outfit wore for the party season this year. The glitters are very eyecatching and really give off that magical christmas feeling.

Dolce and Gabbana A/W 13'

 

   This collection by Dolce and Gabbana seems to be heavily influenced by artwork within Italian history.  The Santa Maria Nuova, which is a cathedral in Monreale, Sicily is what initially inspired the designers to create such unusual and bold pieces, and this shows throughout the collection, which uses mosaic design and embellishment in the form of jewels. My favourite thing about this is that the designers have put a great amount of thought into every piece in this collection, and it all comes together seamlessly, with each piece telling a story and bringing a cultural influence into the 21st century.

Dolce and Gabbana advertisement in Novembers issue of Cosmopolitan.
 

Orwell and Goode / Gift Design

I chose to research Orwell and Goode as most of their designs are carefully hand printed using different methods,  and in their own studio to ensure that every piece is of the highest quality, which means each product is entirely unique. Orwell and Goode sell everything from cards to lampshades to furniture and commissions. I like the designs as the block colour techniques really grab your attention, while the illustrations have fine detail and show a range of pattern and imagery throughout.

http://orwellandgoode.com/shop-at-orwell-goode.php

Repeat pattern and bold imagery is used on the furnishings, and many of the lampshades and cushions are sold together in matching sets.

http://printpattern.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/DESIGNERS?updated-max=2013-10-
01T08:00:00%2B01:00&max-results=20&start=8&by-date=false

                                                                      Kerdova Print
Orwell and Goode's chief designer also runs a design and print business which also includes wallpaper.
http://www.kerdovaprint.co.uk/  The website has lots of lovely collections to browse through and each design is again hand printed. These are some examples.

Thornton Bregazzi S/S 14

Pre - Collection

While looking for inspiration on the WGSN website (http://www.wgsn.com/)

this dress caught my eye. Thornton Bregazzi has a very free and expressive way of designing which I love. This dress in particular is made up of many different elements, one which is a transparency, initially creating a lot of depth and structure within the design.

Each piece of fabric looks like it has been carefully layered to give a smooth appearance, and a wide range of printing and embellishment techniques have been used to enhance the design and make it eye-catching and unique. I think the whole spring/summer collection by Bregazzi is really wearable and the fun, colourful, yet subtle designs are something which we could see filtering down into high street stores and becoming a wardrobe staple.

http://www.preen.eu/category/collections/ss-14/pre-collection-ss-14/

Cole and Son

Cole and Son are a high end wallpaper company specializing in hand made and bespoke print designs. Here are examples of some collections which are based around foliage and floral design, which ties in with my sketchbook work. http://www.cole-and-son.com/en/  

                             

                                                            Patina Collection

                              

                                                      Historic Royal Palaces 

                               

                               

                                                           New Contemporary

                               

Foliage studies

Recent foliage studies in my sketchbook using dry media and printing techniques.